Improvement in locks



3 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. SCHNEIDER.

Look.

No. 206,044. Patented July 16, 1878.

i WITNESSES INVENTOR I 7 KTTORNEY I 3 SheetsShee t 3.

A. SCHNEIDER.

v G J M WITNESSES INVENTOR W Wag Yr N-PETERS, PHDTO LITHOGRAPHE|L WASHINGTON D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ALEXANDER SCHNEIDER, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO LOUIS WELLENDORF, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,044, la J y PP filed June 19, 1878.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, ALEXANDER SCHNEIDER, of Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as w1ll enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in locks, the object being to provide a lock of such construction that the lock-bolt cannot be tampered with or moved except by the aid of a peculiar form of key, which serves the double purposeofactuatin g a sliding key-tube, through whlch access is had to the lock-bolt, and also the bolt of the lock; and to this end my inventlon consists, first, in the combination, with the casing of a lock, of a sliding key-tube, located above the lock-bolt, and provided with one or more grooves, partly surrounding the same, and a spring-pressed catch, which engages 1n the groove in said tube, whereby access to the lock-bolt is prevented when the key-tube is forced within the lock-casing, and not until the tube has been partly rotated to disengage the spring-catch from the groove in the tube can the latter be drawn outwardly to allow of the insertion of the key and the moving of the lock.

My invention further consists in the several details in construction and combinations of parts, as will more fully appear from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of my improved lock. Fig. 2 is a similar view, with the rear portion of the casing removed to show the interior mechanism of the lock. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the front plate of the lock with the sliding tube inserted therein, and the springcatch engaging one of the grooves in said tube. Fig.

4 is a view, in perspective, of the sliding tube.

top and bottom plates, and (J C the side plates, of the casing of the lock.

My improvement is represented as being embodied in a lock of trian gular form, although I do not limit myself to this particular shape of casing, as it is evident that it may be of square, rectangular, semi-spherical, or other like equivalent in form without departing from the spirit of my invention.

D is a sliding key-tube, which is inserted through the front plate A, said tube being nearly equal in length to the thickness of the lock-casing. The rear end of tube D is provided with a collar, 0 to prevent its complete withdrawal or removal from the lock. The periphery of tube D is provided with one or more grooves, a, which extend only partly around the same, thus leaving a smooth surface, I), extending the length of the tube. In the forward end of the tube is formed a slot, 0, for a purpose hereinafter described.

To the rear surface of front plate A is pivoted a catch-plate, E, by the pivot or stud d. A wire or other spring, e, is coiled around stud d, one end, d, of the spring resting against the flange e on the front plate, while the opposite end, d rests upon the free end of the catch-plate, and operates to depress the same, thus causing the plate E to be forced into one of the grooves a in the tube D. Vhen the catclrplate is in engagement with one of said grooves it will be impossible to move the tube in either direction without rotating the same sufficiently to bring the smooth surface I) on the tube in line with the catch-plate.

Another provision is also made for preventing the endwise movement of the tube. To the top plate of the lock-casing is secured a depending bar, F, having a slot, f, formed in its lower end, and the collar 0 is formed with a slot, 0 By rotating the tube and causing the slot 0 to register with the projection f on the bar F the tube may be withdrawn; but the tube being forced back so that the collar 0 enters the slot fin the bar F, and then the tube being given a part rotation, the projection or guard f serves to effectually prevent the withdrawal of the tube.

\Vhen the tube is provided with two grooves, a, as in the form of lock illustrated in the draw iugs, the operation of retracting or withdrawing the tube for inserting the key to engage with the lockholt is as follows: The tube is tirst partly rotated, to disengage the frictionplate from the forward groove (1, and then given a half-turn and withdrawn from engagement from the depending bar, and then given another half-turn to disengage the next catchplate from the groove (1, next to the collar.

Having described the construction and operation of the sliding key-tube, I will now describe the other portions of the lock.

(l is a partition-plate, provided with a hole, 1, for the passage ot'the key-tube, and also with an elongated slot or opening, ll, within which slides the shank h ofa raek, I. To the rear face of the shank h is secured a bar, J, attached to the lock-bolt K, the ends of which latter proieet throu 'ho ieniiwskin the sides ofthe casin I H b of the luck.

It will be observed that the rack I, and by means of which the loelebolt K is operated, is located beneath the key-tube and near the front plate of the loek, so that it is out of reaeh of any ordinary key.

I. is the key, consisting of the handle portion )1 and the pivoted hit N, the latter having a hook, j, formed on its outer end. The book j is adapted to be inserted in the slot in the end of the key-tube for rotating and withdrawing said tube in themanuer hereinbefore explained.

'lheoperation ot'theloek is as follows: \Yhen the lock-bolt is in its loeked position, the keytube should properly he forced into the easing as far as possible. To unlock the lock or shift the lock, the key is opened and the hook j inserted into the slot in the end of the sliding key-tube, and the latter turned part way and withdrawn slightly, then turned partly and again withdrawn part way, and again given a part revolution and withdrawn its full extent. The key is then turned so that. the hit portion N will fall when the key is inserted its full extent; and asthe key is forced into the key-tube the hit N falls between two teeth of the rack 1 connected with the loekbolt, and by simply turning the key the bolt may he readily operated. When it is desired to lock the bolt the latter is forced outwardly into thejamb of the door and the key then extracted. The keytube is then manipulatwl in the manner heretofore described, and forced into the lock, thus effectually preventing the tampering with or access to the lock-bolt.

My improved lock may be manufactured at small initial cost, as it is composed of few parts, which are simple in construction and durable in use. The several parts are so arranged that it is practically impossible to pick the lock with any of the ordinary implements of burglars use.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the casin got a lock, of a sliding key-tube provided with one or more grooves that partially surround said tube and a spring-pressed catch-plate, adapted to en gage with said groove or grooves, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a sliding key-tube provided with a collar on its rear end, said eollar having a slot formed therein, of a depending slotted bar, substantially as set forth.

I Thecombination, with the casingot'a lock, of a sliding key-tube and a lock-bolt provided with a rack located beneath said tube and near the front plate of the lock, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the front plate of a lock-casing, of a paitition-plate having an elongated slot formed therein, and a lockbolt located on one side of said partition, and a rack for actuating said lock-holt on the other side of the same, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a sliding key-tube, of a lock-bolt located beneath said tube and a two-part key, the several parts heiugconstrueted so that the key-bit cannot engage with the rack until the keytube is withdrawn, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a sliding key-tube and means for securing it in place, of a key provided with a proiection for engagement in a slot formed in the outer end of the key-tube, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing] have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of June, 187

ALEXANDER SCHNEIDER. \Vitnesses:

.l. Gunner. KmcnnArM, l). N. Sinrkixs. 

